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Sunday, 28 February 2010

Well, well - the third mushroom rears its tiny head above the compost. That's breakfast sorted for a week on Tuesday, then.

Another enjoyable meeting of Southampton Writing Buddies on Friday, with lots of progress of members' projects. I have made a pitch to a magazine about a psychology-based feature, and submitted a short story for a (paid) detailed critique to see where I might improve this side of things. Also submitted a short story to The Weekly News.

Finished reading The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson - a former Richard & Judy summer read (didn't notice it was when I bought it from WHSmith). Entertaining but not what you'd call deep. About to start Kate Mosse's Sepulchre which is very long. Trying to keep supporting actual bookshops rather than buying through websites - but books on jellyfish are hard to find.

Lovely visit to son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters in London on Saturday; they cooked a great lentil and cheese dish (we're all vegetarians).

Writing a blog seems very self-indulgent, but within a few days I am hoping to be able to insert into mine some information about my writing CV. It's quite long .....

Saturday, 6 February 2010

No luck with getting firm cancellation of my first website host contact - once you want out they don't want to know. As soon as I get confirmation, hope to be up and running elsewhere.

Delighted to hear that my postcard feature has been accepted for 'possible publication' by a magazine. This hopefully means fairly soon, but they won't be specific on what they might pay. And they pay after publication, so we're not celebrating yet, but it's great to be back after several years out of the race.

Tuesday, 2 February 2010

I've really enjoyed reading John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany", which my son's family gave me at Christmas - highly recommended. One of those books where, at the end, you keep saying "Ah, so that's why".

Does anyone ever reap a decent harvest of mushrooms from kits? We've tried large boxes (about six mushrooms) and mushroom logs (fewer though v expensive), though our present smaller box seems to have started the business OK.

Frustration with setting up a website - my first choice gave me my domain but I couldn't get their site set-up system to work and they kept giving me further instructions which didn't work. Now I'm trying to get out of the process but still waiting for their response.

I've recently submitted an article on comic postcards and a short story; keeping up my NY resolution to submit something at least once a month. The realisation has at last dawned that I am at heart a feature writer rather than fiction - have had a huge number published in the past and want to start up again. Full of ideas thankfully.

About Me

I've had writing published since early teens, mainly non-fiction but more recently poetry, flash fiction and stories. My first children's book, Millie the Detective, and my dark short story collection - Bottles and Pots - are both now available in paperback and as ebooks. I have two blogs - one about writing and other things, and one on vegetarian cookery. I've been vegetarian 35 years, and always a keen cook. Have run a veg cookery course and won many prizes for original recipes. Successful dieter and generally healthy bod!